"Come in quickly and close the door." West said nervously as he walked into the house.
Elena put down the empty plate in her hand and asked her son, "Where have you been these days? Are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something else to eat?"
After West turned the dim oil lamp to the highest setting, he pulled over his younger brother and sister who were weaving a web, then took out two fist-sized pieces of white bread from his arms and handed them to them.
"Eat it. I went to the residential area on the island to buy it."
The two siblings took the white bread but did not eat it. Instead, they looked at their mother with concern.
Elena looked at the exquisite packaging of the white bread with a nervous look on her face. "Isn't this expensive?"
West said nonchalantly, "It's okay. It's only 50 replies each. We can afford this."
As he spoke, he took out a stack of Echo bills and handed it to Elena.
Facing these banknotes, Elena did not show any joy on her face. Instead, her old face was filled with deep anxiety.
"Did you steal again? How many times have I told you not to do such illegal things again! What if you are caught by the police?!"
West smiled and put the banknotes in his hand into his mother's hand. "Don't worry, I didn't steal other people's things."
"Where did this money come from?" Elena stared at her eldest son.
"I... I picked up a wallet today. It should belong to someone from the island. There is a lot of money in it." West looked away guiltily.
"Don't lie to me, where did all this money come from?" Elena's voice trembled slightly.
The two siblings next to them looked at each other, silently put the white bread in their hands on the table, and continued to weave the fishing net.
West had no choice but to tell the truth. "It's nothing, it's just that the Shark Gang asked me for help, this money is their reward."
Elena's bloodless lips trembled slightly. "Have you forgotten how little Timmy died? He went to help, and when he was sent back, half of his body was gone!"
Elena's eyes were filled with extreme fear. The gangs on the street only wanted to help the poor people living in the port area.
That is to let them experiment with strange relics.
Many of the people who came to help in the past just walked in and came out lying down. This is simply gambling with your life. Usually only those addicted gamblers who are crazy about gambling would do this kind of help. God knows why his son would do such a thing.
"Mom, it's okay. I'll just do it this time. You see, I'm back now. I'm going on a long trip for several months, so I have to leave some money for my family."
West came over, pulled up his younger brother and sister who were weaving a web, and stuffed the bread on the table back into their hands.
"How many months? What are you going to do?" Elena's voice trembled.
West knew that what he was going to say next would make his mother angry, but he still said it. "There is a cargo ship that is short of a sailor, and I want to go to sea as a crew member."
As if stimulated by something, Elena suddenly rushed to her eldest son, raised her left hand and slapped him hard in the face. "Pah!"
"Are you crazy? You are going to die! Have you forgotten how your father disappeared? You are not allowed to go to the sea!!"
Elena waved her hand again, but West grabbed it, and his voice became excited.
"Mother, isn't it just death? What's there to be afraid of? I'll accept death. What's the point of living in such poverty?"
“No matter how poor you are, being alive is better than being dead!! As long as you are alive, things will get better someday!!”
"The day before yesterday, I saw you picking up shark meat that was left over after someone else skinned it at the fish market. This fish meat smells like urine and is even despised by beggars, but only our family eats it. How can this be called good?"
Faced with her son's questioning, Elena was speechless. She lowered her head and shed tears silently.
Looking at his sad mother, West continued in a low voice: "My brothers and sisters don't remember the time when my father's jewelry store was still there, but I still remember that we could bathe in fresh water, eat delicious food every day, and live in a big house in the center of the island. That's what it means to be truly better, instead of living like rats in the gutter like this."
There was silence in the room for a long time. When the flame in the oil lamp flickered, West stuffed all the Echo banknotes in his hand into his mother's arms.
"Don't worry, I will make those good days come back again. I promise!" After saying that, he ignored his mother's shouting behind him and rushed to the noisy street as fast as he could.
After he turned left and right and got rid of his mother, West breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the two young men who were smoking in the distance.
"How did the discussion go?"
West nodded firmly, "Well, I decided to get on board."
A young man with a slanting scar on the corner of his mouth excitedly hit him on the shoulder with his hand.
"You will be proud of this decision in the future. Those who beg for food on the shore are just cowards. Only those who live by the sea can be considered real men. Let's go to the bar. I'll treat you today."
With a smile on his face, West put his arm around his companion's shoulder and walked forward. "Captain, will you allow me to board the ship? I have never been to sea before."
"Don't worry, you're just going to be a sailor, as long as you have long arms and legs, and I have a close relationship with the boatswain, so he will definitely agree if I send him a few packs of cigarettes."
Just as the three of them continued to walk forward arm in arm, a sheriff in black blocked their way.
"What a bummer! Why are these black dogs blocking the road?" The young man with the scar looked impatient.
"Look over there, it seems like some important person is coming." West pointed to the dock next to them.
Bright searchlights pierced through the darkness, and a huge, oppressive ship slowly approached the dock.
"That's the Governor's Royal Giant."
Not long after, West saw several cars driving quickly towards this side from the dock.
One of the car windows opened, and a beautiful face flashed before their eyes. The stunning appearance made the men next to them stare blankly.
"No matter how many times you look at a pearl, it is still so beautiful."
"It's really her! It's Miss Margaret!"
"Sister, you are so beautiful."
The scarred young man licked his lips with lustful eyes. "If I can let her be my woman for one night, I'd be willing to sacrifice my life for it."
"Hey! Brat! What did you just say? Get over here!" The nearest policeman angrily raised the black baton in his hand.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the three of them hurriedly got out of the crowd.
(End of this chapter)